Lonely mother Reese Witherspoon

Reese Witherspoon, who was just 22 when she became a mother for the first time, admits she struggled to adjust to parenthood

Reese Witherspoon found motherhood very lonely.

The Oscar-winning actress, who gave birth to daughter Ava with then-husband Ryan Phillippe in 1999, initially struggled to adapt to her new role as a parent.

She said: "When I first had Ava, I couldn't afford help. It was so hard. I was out in Los Angeles, living away from my family. I didn't really have any friends. And I had a baby. No one else who was 22 had a baby. I couldn't go out."

However, Reese - who also went on to have a son Deacon with Ryan in 2003 before they divorced in 2006 - found "salvation" with a group of female friends and is grateful for the support they provide her.

The 33-year-old star - who is now dating actor Jake Gyllenhaal - told Britain's Elle magazine: "That's always been the centre of my life, female friendship. I value the shared human experience, when women are honest with each other. It's hard having kids. It's hard having a job. It's hard having a relationship - for anybody."